What really it happened inside Hotel Rwanda?
When it comes to genocide against Tutsis, stories of survivors often go hand in hand with their saviors. The real heroes during the genocide have been documented and are known inside and outside the country. Many others are being identified with the passage of time.
Stories of people such as Zula Karuhimbi, pretending to be a witch to save the Tutsis, Senegal peacekeeping force UN Capt. Mbaye Diagne, who lost his life while protecting Rwandans even against the wishes of their leaders, as well as countless other individual accounts are said in the same category.
But when it comes to know exactly what happened inside the hotel of a Thousand Hills, better known in the international media as 'Hotel Rwanda', stories of survivors are not exactly the same as those told by their perceived saviors .
When Paul Rusesabagina published his autobiography, a common man, who traveled the world with the feeling of his actions in "-not-so-ordinary" at least according to some of the survivors.
In any case, they were supposedly pure actions, the guy who later force Hollywood to produce a film with the same title (Hotel Rwanda-played by Don Cheadle), who was acclaimed worldwide.
The success of the film. The success of Rusesabagina. However, an error of truth. This is what many say genocide survivors.
In a new book titled "Inside the Hotel Rwanda," a genocide survivor, Edouard Kayihura, relates how the self-portrait of Rusesabagina as real life 'Superman' is just crazy digging holes in the memory genocide survivors, especially those who remained inside the shelter of a Thousand Hills hotel for most of the 100 days of genocide.
Co-written with American author, Kerry Zukus, inside the Hotel Rwanda takes his readers on a journey inside the walls of the famous hotel, and also provides an interesting insight for those who know the Genocide only through the film , Hotel Rwanda.
Kayihura told The New Times that is positive his book offers a critical deconstruction of Rusesabagina highly acclaimed book and film adaptation.
"Because the film Hotel Rwanda, Rusesabagina real life has been compared to Oskar Schindler, but without the knowledge of public opinion, Hotel refugees do not endorse Rusesabagina's version of events," Kayihura said.
Life and events
Having destroyed their identification to expose the irrefutable label "Tutsi" Kayihura was sure that his order would somehow having nothing to identify when the genocide erupted.
As the search for "cockroaches" intensified, Kayihura found living one day at a time, and if it were not for a couple of his friends Hutus, would not be around to tell their story.
"Radio stations transmitting that there were" cockroaches "hidden in the Hotel des Mille Collines. I tried to convince a friend to accompany me in the hotel. Naturally, I was reluctant, but finally agreed, the two take off together walk. we knew that if we reached a roadblock, you will most likely be killed, "Kayihura said.
His friend, Pascal Hitimana, a Hutu, only flashes identification in armed militiamen with machetes manning barricades and both happen. One, two, three roadblocks ... until they did inside the hotel of a Thousand Hills.
"Upon entering the hotel on April 11, 1994, the first person I saw was a friend. I could not believe I was still alive. He brought me to his room on the third floor. I had no money, but he assured me that even could go to the hotel restaurant and get food, "Kayihura said.
The hotel manager was a European species, according to Kayihura, who told his staff not to accuse anyone because it was a time of national crisis and normal activities, such as banking and shopping had stopped.
However, as fate would have it, the European manager evacuated the hotel and soon after, on April 16, Paul Rusesabagina joined the hotel from the nearby Hotel des Diplomates, where he had been employed.
"Hotel des diplomats had hosted military senior leaders who were carrying out genocide. It was where the declaration of Genocide pronounced. On April 15, the genodical government was forced to leave the capital, because the EPR were shelling that hotel, dislodging his host Paul Rusesabagina, as well, "he said.
"Once in the hotel Milles Collines, the first meeting Rusesabagina had with the staff to ensure that all refugees paid before the food was served, and pay for their rooms as well. This, despite the fact most of them had no money. "
More horrors soon appeared under the reign of Rusesabagina.
Kayihura reports that the first communication Rusesabagina did with the UN soldiers was a written request to "eliminate the Tutsi refugees from the hotel."
For asylum seekers hotel, it became clear that management had changed for the worse, it became clearer when a cashier was placed in the restaurant to make sure no one is a free meal.
".. Under Rusesabagina, only those who had money could go to the hotel restaurant and get food Suddenly we feel despair and helplessness Shortly afterwards, Rusesabagina also began charging for rooms, if not paid put out of his room," Kayihura recalled .
"We were using the hotel phones to call international organizations to the rescue, but soon the lines were disconnected and only the phone in the office of Rusesabagina was working."
Later, refugees were left without water and began drinking water from the pool until it was drained.
Once too often, the masterminds of the genocide also visited the hotel, usually spend their afternoons laughing and drinking with the hotel manager, who was his friend.
When the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) took control of the Kanombe military camp, it was a big blow to the genocidal government.
Eight hundred soldiers and their families were delivered to the Assistance Mission for Rwanda UN General Romeo Dallaire commander, which he delivered to the Red Cross from which ended up under the EPR as prisoners of war.
POWs were later used for the exchange of Tutsi hostages inside the hotel of a Thousand Hills. Kayihura and more than 100 asylum seekers in the hotel walked to safety.
"In a meeting at the Hotel des diplomats, UN soldiers, militia and the then government they decided that refugees in the hotel Milles Collines would be exchanged by government soldiers held in the RPA. That's the reason laying saved. None of this is captured in the film I've ever seen, "says Kayihura.
"On the day of the evacuation, a delegation of UN military peacekeeping Rwanda and were there with three trucks. Before reaching a truck, Rusesabagina checked to make sure no any towels hotel took".
acclaimed book
Inside the Hotel Rwanda has garnered positive reviews reviews and famous characters, including General Dallaire.
"This book provides a window into the experience of real life of those who hid in the Hotel des Mille Collines during the 100 days of genocide. For those who have learned from this story only through the film Hotel Rwanda, Edouard Kayihura story is a prime opportunity to bring reality to the staging of Hollywood "said General Dallaire.
notable contributors include Stephen Kinzer, award-winning foreign correspondent and author of A Thousand Hills: Rwanda's rebirth and the man I dreamed, Bernard Makuza, vice president of the Senate, and Stephen D. Smith, UNESCO Chair in Education Genocide.
